Ex-Karnataka minister Janardhana Reddy’s bail cancelled

Hyderabad, June 13 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh High Court Wednesday dismissed the bail granted by a lower court to former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in an illegal mining case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had challenged the bail granted to him by the CBI court here May 11 in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) case. However, he was not released as he was lodged in Bangalore jail in another illegal mining case in Karnataka.

The high court said the accused may again approach the CBI court for bail.

The cancellation of bail is significant as it was allegedly granted by a CBI judge for a huge bribe.

High court chief justice Madan B. Lokur on May 31 suspended First Additional CBI judge T. Pattabhirama Rao after a preliminary probe by the CBI revealed that he granted bail for a bribe of Rs.5 crore.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which has now taken up the investigations into the bail scam, has booked Pattabhirama Rao and seven others including two Karnataka legislators. The ACB also arrested rowdy-sheeter Yadgiri.